XXI

In the morning, she took extra long to wash, braid her hair and get ready before leaving her bedroom. The errand boy whom Hazel tasked with procuring human food was doing an amazing job, and most mornings Elanor could eat cheese, fruits, and sometimes pastries for breakfast. She was also gifted some clothes from Mira and her uncle, and today was wearing a pale red woolen dress with some matching red poppies in her hair as an accessory. When she entered the dining room, everyone was there, including Lumi, who was enjoying Talvi brushing his fur; Mira was having tea, and her uncle was reading letters by the window. 

"Good morning," said Elanor, looking directly at Talvi and smiling awkwardly. He returned the smile immediately with visible relief. 

"Lara! I was just going to take Lumi on a walk. Would you like to join?" 

***

After playing fetch with Lumi, winded and feeling much less tension, they lay on the grass and cloud-gazed. The air smelled fresh and of foliage.

This is perfect weather for a mushroom hunt. If I were in Selfoss, it would probably be the season for winter chanterelles. 

Thinking of mushrooms made Elanor remember how she got here, and she giggled.

Maybe I'll stay away from any mushrooms for a while when I get back home.

"Which of these clouds is funniest?" curiously taunted Talvi.

"I was just marveling at how this whole adventure came out of nowhere, from stepping into some faery ring. Do you believe in fated things, like prophecies or chance?" Lumi was jumping between them, enjoying how leaves crunched under his paws. 

"No... I believe in fighting for the things you want. In waking up and making a conscious choice to commit to the dreams you've pictured, and moving forward towards the goals that will bring them to life," answered the elf thoughtfully. He must have noticed that some raw feeling finally slipped out of his aloof facade and added, "I also believe in teasing pretty girls from Humanlands, and apologizing when I get carried too far."

At that, the fae turned to the side to look at her and folded his long arm under his head. Elanor shifted to face him as well and wondered if his expression was mesmerized or if she just imagined it. Timidly, he extended his hand and picked up a fallen leaf stuck in her hair. He pulled a couple more of them out and whispered, "May I?"

She was not sure what she was agreeing to, but Elanor nodded, and Talvi slowly touched her round ear and traced its outer bow delicately with the tips of his cold fingers. How can they burn so, being no warmer than marble? Her heart skipped a few beats, all because of those onyx eyes of his burning a tunnel into her soul. She could not move or look away, and did not want to.

Faerie charms are no joke; if I were not staying alert and aware, I would think that I'm catching feelings by now. - was Elanor persuading herself, refusing to remember that she was now wearing an iron earring. A little flirting would cheer him up from the loss of his lover, but last night and right now do not feel innocent anymore. Is that a fae thing, are they just free-spirited with their hearts?

When the spell of the moment fled and they stood up and started walking back, she paused before the door and said to Talvi:

"If you feel good enough for travel, we should not linger too long. I'm concerned about your illness."

"Then let's leave for the Seelie Court tomorrow morning," he replied simply. 

***

The rest of the day at the cottage was spent in great fun, and it felt like a gathering of a loving family who had reunited for the holidays, looking like a TV commercial - so perfect, it seemed to Lara. She was savoring it, anticipating how nice it would be to see her parents in Montreal when she finally returned. 

She and Mira read a whole bunch of fresh poetry that Hazel brought from town, and he even sat through it with almost no snoring. Later, he went into his office and returned with a notebook full of poetic attempts of his youth, and all of them ended up crying from laughter, including the author.

"...Your graceful nose, like mountain's peak, 
Impressed my proper owl beak," recited Hazel.

"Hahaha!" Elanor and Mira laughed so hard that Lumi started barking at them. 

"Wait, there is more!" announced Talvi happily, peeking through the tailor's shoulder. "If I pique your fancy, wear tomorrow a pansy!"

All four of them burst into the new wave of howling, bending down and holding onto the seats.

No one wanted this night to end, but when they had dinner, then snacks, then four rounds of tea, and then began to nod in their seats, the evening was proclaimed concluded, and with endless goodnight wishes, everyone retreated to their rooms.  

***

"Lara, you are always welcome to come back and visit us," said Mira, hugging her human friend. Hazel was nodding vigorously at that statement; it was one of the many rounds of hugs.

Elanor was wearing her fae disguise, which this time around did not cause Talvi a mental breakdown. He was wearing a different attire as well, much more modest, with a simple white flaring shirt and woolen pants, which were a bit too short for his long legs. A crocheted hood hat, untied, sat on his deep green curls. His hands were bare of the usual rings, concealed with leather gloves, and he took off most of his ear piercings.

"Alright, Lumi, jump into this pouch. I have already ensured it is very cozy on the inside. I'll see you after we're done," and she hugged and kissed her beloved dog, before he disappeared into the sack on her belt. 

"My dear friends," said Hazel, "something magical happened for us over the past month in this cottage, and I know that the friendship we found here will remain with us for as long as we wish. I hope your adventures will lead you back here sometime."

And on this note, Elanor and Talvi stepped out of the cottage and headed towards the ash that would take them back into the atelier, to then catch a ferry sailing right to the healer's dwelling.